Rainforest Retreat at Mojo Plantation has a communal daily program much
like an Ashram although there are no compulsory early mornings and the optional
activities are based around nature walks and talks on the Kodagu (Coorg)
environment, conservation and organic plantation farming. Elective early mornings tend to take hold the
first time you are woken at dawn by the whistling thrush and rush outside to
hear it again along with its vast array of backing signers. Tasty, healthy and locally-sourced buffets
are served in an open pavilion beside the stream which we cross a couple of
times on the path that winds between the lush green plants from our cottage. Log burners in the outer walls of each
cottage (and the shared bathrooms for the bunkhouse and tents) are lit morning
and evening for steaming hot water. There
is no phone signal and no internet access.
Lights operate on batteries charged through solar units during the long
sunny days. Meals are cooked using the
biogas generated from the cow and goat manure which is digested anaerobically
in a tank right beside the livestock area, creating combustible methane and organic
fertiliser slurry. Everything here in
this (Indian) temperate paradise is done beautifully, from the “eco-chic”
cottage decor to the delicate carrot and beetroot salad.
Steve (Irwin) and the 7ft Rat Snake Skin! |
The main crops grown in the plantation are coffee (a blend of Arabica and
Robusta is brewed morning and afternoon), cardamom (apparently you can also “pop
a pod” to help you get over a nicotine craving), vanilla and pepper - although
the planting by no means stops with the crops.
Biodiversity has been groomed here using lure plants and barrier plants
to encourage the beneficial bugs to thrive and inhibit the hostile ones from
surviving. There are also a lot of useful herbs, flowers (hibiscus juice is
delicious!), fruit trees (even a fat and cholesterol and busting one!) and of
course hundreds of orchids!
Tarrantula Nest |
Ants eating larvae petrified by a wasp for its babies |
For the first time ever I have been shown bird calls and images and gone away able to identify them for myself, I have viewed creatures that would normally have made me squirm with absolute fascination and my itch for scientific learning has been well and truly scratched.
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